How To Find A Chiropractor San Diego Clients Can Trust

By Dawn Williams


Many patients with various conditions decide to undergo chiropractic therapy as a drug-free alternative to standard treatment. Not every practitioner utilizes the same approach as the next, and it's up to the discretion of the patient to determine which one will work best for him or her. These guidelines will help locate the best chiropractor San Diego patients can find to meet their needs.

If one can get a personal recommendation for a chiropractor this is ideal. Asking a family doctor to suggest a practitioner who is competent and trustworthy is the best option, or one can also ask other people such as friends and family. It's important to remember that such opinions are subjective however. When several people recommend the same person this is a pretty good indication that this individual is good at his or her job.

The first thing the patient should do is call each chiropractic clinic he or she is considering and finding out some basic information such as where its located, business hours and such to determine if it's a good candidate or not. Of those which seem promising, the client should then arrange to meet the chiropractor in person by scheduling a consultation appointment.

It's a wise precaution to look into the chiropractor's background a bit before going under his or her care. The client should consult the state's Chiropractic Regulation and Licensing Board to see if the practitioner has ever been subject to any disciplinary action, and it's also a good ideal to confirm that he or she attended an accredited learning institute.

The technique used by different practitioners varies as well. Some will strictly perform manual joint manipulation, whereas others may also implement the use of specialized equipment such as traction machines and cold laser. Every chiropractor will normally apply spinal adjustments at some point, but some use a more forceful method and others a low-velocity approach. It's a matter of what the patient is most comfortable with.

The client must remember that he or she does not have to go along with what the practitioner suggests if it does not seem right in some way. There are some red flags to watch out for, such as a practitioner insisting that only he or she can treat or even cure a condition, insisting that patients pay for and attend a predetermined number of sessions, and assigning all patients the same approach regardless of their condition. These are signs one should look elsewhere for care.

It is typical for a patient to experience a 40-80 percent reduction in pain within the first month of chiropractic treatment. Once this improvement has been noted, the practitioner should reduce the number of appointments appropriately. Besides applying direct manual therapy, a good practitioner will also provide the client with useful guidance in terms of lifestyle changes, diet and supplementation, and possibly the use of rehabilitative devices.

Besides qualifications, one very important consideration in choosing a chiropractor San Diego patients should prioritize is the "bedside manner" of the practitioner. The client needs to make sure this person is one who listens intently, clearly answers any questions they may have, and generally has a good rapport with the patient.




About the Author: